A Department of Public Safety special agent was shot in the hand while exchanging gunfire with a suspect in a north Harris County apartment complex Tuesday night.

Troopers say they were investigating a carjacking that happened earlier in the night when gunshots were fired around 9 p.m. at La Esencia apartments in the 300 block of North Vista, just off the North Freeway.

A special agent went to check out the scene. Minutes later, he was shot in the hand.